23 Masra(The Twenty-Third Day of the Blessed Month of Misra)

The Martyrdom of Thirty Thousand Christians in
Alexandria

On this day, is the commemoration of the martyrdom of
the thirty thousand Christians in the city of Alexandria. When Emperor Marcianus
banished Pope Dioscorus to the island of Gagra, he appointed Brotarius, a
Patriarch, in his place. The bishops of Egypt refused to have a fellowship with
him. They assembled a council against him, the Council of Chalcedon, and the
tome of Leo Brotarius became raged and with the aid of the government forces he
attacked and plundered the monasteries and churches. Then he confiscated all
their endowments for himself and he became wealthy. Thieves attacked him during
the night, killed him, and plundered what he had. His friends sent to the
Emperor saying, "The followers of Dioscorus were the ones that killed the
Patriarch that was appointed by the Emperor."

The Emperor became furious and sent a number of his
soldiers, who killed about thirty thousand Christians in the city of Alexandria.

Shortly after, Marcianus died and was succeeded by Leo
the Great. The bishops of Egypt seized this opportunity and ordained Fr. Timothy
a Patriarch for Alexandria. Immediately the new Pope assembled a council and
excommunicated the Council of Chalcedon. The heretics informed the Emperor
saying, "Those who killed Brotarius ordained for themselves a Patriarch without
permission from the Emperor." The Emperor was enraged and he exiled Abba Timothy
and his brother Anatolius to the island of Gagra. They remained there for seven
years until Emperor Leo the Less released them. After the return of Pope
Timothy, he cooperated with Abba Peter of Antioch, and assembled a council of
five hundred bishops in the capital. This council judged to refuse the Council
of Chalcedon, and also affirmed the teaching of the unity of the natures of the
Lord Christ. They also presented their report to the Emperor who approved it.
The Emperor issued an edict that dictated to abide by this council report only.
As a result, the Sees of Alexandria, Constantinople, Antioch and Jerusalem were
united for a long time.